Job summary Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services (A joint venture with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Trust and Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and East Surrey Hospital) Are you looking for a full-time Associate Practitioner (AP) role? Band 4 position with a desire to work as part of the largest NHS led Pathology Services in the UK. Successful candidate will be based at Frimley Park Hospital site. We are looking for an energetic, enthusiastic and well-motivated individual with good scientific background and laboratory experience to complement our existing AP team. The post holder will liaise with line manager as part of a team delivering high quality protocol based technical service under the supervision of HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist staff and is required to act as supervisor for support grade staff members as agreed with the laboratory management team, and will be expected to train, support and advise less experienced staff, such as trainees, students and medical laboratory assistants. Essential qualities expected are efficiency, being well-organised, having good communication and leadership skills and attention to detail. Good keyboard skills are desirable. In addition, you should be a reliable individual who is able to demonstrate good practical skills and work as part of the AP team. You will be expected to work according to our working time compliant shift system. Main duties of the job To participate in the provision of a comprehensive range of scientific and diagnostic services for bacteriology. The diagnostic work of the bacteriology department includes the appropriate processing and handling of body fluids and materials including high risk specimens. The post holder will liaise with line manager as part of a team delivering high quality protocol based technical service under the supervision of HCPC Registered Biomedical Scientist staff. The post holder will be required to communicate with hospital clinicians, general practitioners, other healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives and commercial suppliers. The post holder will be required to operate sophisticated, automated laboratory equipment and perform scientific techniques under supervision and to report results in accordance with departmental SOPs and as appropriate to grade. The post holder is required to act as supervisor for support grade staff members as agreed with the laboratory management team, and will be expected to train, support and advise less experienced staff, such as trainees, students and MLA's. The post holder will be required to manage laboratory stock within the department and provide details of stock management to the Lead BMS or General Manager as required. About us Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available. Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too. We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users. Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo Date posted 26 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £27,857 to £30,570 a year Per Annum Including HCAS payment Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 151-SL0429 Job locations Frimley Park Hospital Portsmouth Road Frimley Surrey Camberley GU16 7UJ Job description Job responsibilities Be able to effectively deal with simple day to day situations and problems, referring to Senior Biomedical Scientist staff when appropriate Ensures sample is appropriate type for all tests and assesses samples for urgency, informing Biomedical Scientist staff of such samples To be responsible for own work which will include all aspects of the technical work, equipment and quality system To be able to work within department with the minimum of supervision as directed by Senior Biomedical Scientist staff Works to achieve competencies across the repertoire of the department as appropriate to grade Works as part of a team to ensure that departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work Participate in a range of duties within the department, under supervision or without supervision following successful competency assessment Carry out biomedical procedures including maintenance, monitoring of sophisticated equipment and audit in accordance with departmental SOPs To ensure that work is carried out in line with Standing Operational Procedures and/or Departmental policy Demonstrate a robust knowledge of national and local health and safety standards To undertake any other duties which may be required, which are consistent with the nature and grade of the post For further details refer to JD and PS Job description Job responsibilities Be able to effectively deal with simple day to day situations and problems, referring to Senior Biomedical Scientist staff when appropriate Ensures sample is appropriate type for all tests and assesses samples for urgency, informing Biomedical Scientist staff of such samples To be responsible for own work which will include all aspects of the technical work, equipment and quality system To be able to work within department with the minimum of supervision as directed by Senior Biomedical Scientist staff Works to achieve competencies across the repertoire of the department as appropriate to grade Works as part of a team to ensure that departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work Participate in a range of duties within the department, under supervision or without supervision following successful competency assessment Carry out biomedical procedures including maintenance, monitoring of sophisticated equipment and audit in accordance with departmental SOPs To ensure that work is carried out in line with Standing Operational Procedures and/or Departmental policy Demonstrate a robust knowledge of national and local health and safety standards To undertake any other duties which may be required, which are consistent with the nature and grade of the post For further details refer to JD and PS Person Specification Qualifications Essential Good education to A Levels, including science subject or NVQ 4 or IBMS Certificate of Achievement (Part 2) or Foundation degree or demonstrable laboratory knowledge, experience and skills that prerequisite this role. Willing to undergo relevant training to ensure sound relevant knowledge Desirable ECDL Experience Essential Experience as a MLA in a diagnostic laboratory Able to perform technically challenging procedures where applicable Ability to develop knowledge and understanding of microbiology techniques sufficient to undertake specimen processing and reception Desirable Experience of working as part of a team Some experience of diagnostic microbiology Skills & Knowledge Essential Good verbal and manual skills Able to communicate effectively Ability to work effectively under time and workload pressures Ability to work independently for periods of time Able to use and maintain equipment Desirable Lateral thinking Familiar with the use of computers and able to use a keyboard Friendly and interactive in working group Person Specification Qualifications Essential Good education to A Levels, including science subject or NVQ 4 or IBMS Certificate of Achievement (Part 2) or Foundation degree or demonstrable laboratory knowledge, experience and skills that prerequisite this role. Willing to undergo relevant training to ensure sound relevant knowledge Desirable ECDL Experience Essential Experience as a MLA in a diagnostic laboratory Able to perform technically challenging procedures where applicable Ability to develop knowledge and understanding of microbiology techniques sufficient to undertake specimen processing and reception Desirable Experience of working as part of a team Some experience of diagnostic microbiology Skills & Knowledge Essential Good verbal and manual skills Able to communicate effectively Ability to work effectively under time and workload pressures Ability to work independently for periods of time Able to use and maintain equipment Desirable Lateral thinking Familiar with the use of computers and able to use a keyboard Friendly and interactive in working group Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust Address Frimley Park Hospital Portsmouth Road Frimley Surrey Camberley GU16 7UJ Employer's website https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)